I, Morgana (35 page)

The woman looks at me. “Thank you, Morgana,” she says.

With her words, I come to understand that by saving my child from the dying days of Camelot I have done what she asked. I remember Viviane’s words:
The day will come when Britain is divided and is once more under siege from within. There will be a great need for a wise and courageous leader, someone able to bring the tribes together, and unite them in the quest for common ground.

 I remember the fiery scenes from my scrying pool: the rampaging tribes, the rage and hatred of warriors who seemed intent on the mindless destruction of everything and everyone. I remember also that final, awful, screaming.

Not our world but a future time in the Otherworld that resembles our own so closely. And Morgan? I’d wondered at first if perhaps she was my counterpart in that Otherworld, a reflection of me as I could have been if only things had turned out differently.

Now I know the answer. We have come full circle, and I pray to the gods that Marie’s descendant—and her brother—will have the courage and the wisdom to unite this other Britain, and save it from those bent on destroying it from within; save it from total annihilation.

It is time for me lay down my quill, and I pray to the gods for peace—and forgiveness. I gaze into the pool, but there is nothing now to see, only a gathering darkness that spreads out and folds around me like a soft night blanket, and wraps me safe into its cold, clear silence.

My thanks to the Waratahs for their interest and feedback while I was writing
I, Morgana
.  Thanks also to Dr. Gillian Polack, Isolde Martyn and Laurine Croasdale – your input was invaluable. Special thanks to Molly Talbot for sharing with me her knowledge of the Tarot, and for helping me devise the “reading” for Morgana.  Finally, my thanks to the team at Momentum for all their expertise and care.

Felicity Pulman is the award-winning author of numerous novels for children and teenagers, including
Ghost Boy
, the Shalott trilogy, The Janna Mysteries and
A Ring Through Time
.
I, Morgana
is her first novel for adults, inspired by her early research into Arthurian legend and her journey to the UK and France to ‘walk in the footsteps of Arthur’ before writing the Shalott trilogy. Her interest in crime, fantasy and history (both Australian and European) inspires most of her novels – and often necessitates travelling for research purposes, which is something she loves to do. She has many years’ experience talking about researching and writing her novels both in schools and to adults, as well as conducting creative writing workshops in a wide variety of genres. Felicity is married, with two children and five grandchildren, all of whom help to keep her young and techno-savvy – sort of! You can find out more about Felicity on her website and blog:
www.felicitypulman.com.au
or on Facebook.